How To Fix Wastegate Rattle

Norcross Witilen · Friday, November 12, 2021

Wastegate Rattle Reduction

Those of us suffering with the wastegate rattle (especially noticeable after switching downpipes) know how annoying and embarrassing it can be driving around at slower speeds. You pull up next to somebody at a light, it turns green, you leisurely apply throttle, and the melodic sound of a washer rattling around in a tin can is reflected back to you. The sweet spot for making it sound the worst seems to be sub-35 MPH between 1500-3000 RPM at ~35% throttle. It sounds terrible and broken.

On a hunch, I had my actuator arm adjusted slightly to see if it was possible to move the wastegate flap out of the way of whatever exhaust gas turbulence was causing the irritating rattle. While it's not 100% gone, I'd say adjusting it has made a marked improvement in the severity of the sound; probably close to a 75% reduction. Now, pulling away from a car at a light is practically rattle-free until you start applying more throttle. Like I said, this doesn't completely remove the rattle at all RPMs and speeds, but it does get rid of the loudest parts at lower speeds while driving around town. By the time you're going at a decent speed, you're into boost and your exhaust is making some 5-cylinder music, so nobody can hear the rattle all that much anyway.

Basically, just shorten the actuator arm by turning the nut 2 full (360 degree) turns in/right toward the turbo. That's it. You still maintain the full range of motion for the wastegate's open and closed states, so this does not interfere with normal operation in any way. I did some WOT pulls after the change with no codes or other ill effects. YMMV, of course.

I have included a visual aid.

adjust.jpg

I hope this helps anyone afflicted by this terrible curse.

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